Merpati plane skids in Kupang, passengers safe

An N-35 aircraft belonging to Merpati Nusantara Airlines skidded upon landing at El Tari airport in Kupang, East Nusa Tanggara at 10:15 a.m. local time on Monday, with no causalities being reported.

The plane had come from Soa Bajawa airport, Flores Island.

"All 46 passengers onboard, including an infant, were safe during the incident and passengers were rushed to the TNI-AU [Indonesian Air Force] hospital, not far from the runway," said Imam Pramono, head of El Tari airport office of state airport management company PT Angkasa Pura, as quoted by Antara news agency.

No details on the cause of the incident were available, Imam said, but he added that it was still being investigated.

Witnesses said the plane immediately stopped as soon as its front wheels touched the ground, with it ending up off the runway.